Guide post, guide sleeve and improved air impulse rotary ball cage assembly

ABSTRACT

In combination, a guide post, a coaxial ball bearing cage adjustably receiving the guide post and adapted for longitudinal and rotary movements. A coaxial guide sleeve upon a support adjustably receives the cage and post. An apertured cap or ring upon the sleeve loosely receives and rotatably supports the cage. An inlet on the cap is adapted for connection to a pressurized air source. Pressurized air is directed into the cap for angular impingement upon the cage for rotating the cage relative to the sleeve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the assembled guide post, guide sleeveand ball bearing cage, such as may be used with a die set assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the guide sleeve, guide post and bearing assembly of U.S. Pat. No.4,664,534 dated May 12, 1987, of the present inventor, one disadvantageof that construction was the lack of predictability and extent ofrelative rotary movement of the ball cage with respect to the guide postto prevent tracking of the balls along the surface of the guide post andguide sleeve.

In said earlier patent, possibly others, as for example, U.S. Pat. No.4,648,727, it was believed advantageous to have some relative rotarymovement of the ball cage with respect to the guide post and sleeve.This related to rotation of the ball bearing assembly with respect tothe axially related guide post and the external guide sleeve to avoidtracking thereupon by the bearings.

THE PRIOR ART

Listed below are additional patents relating to the general combinationof a guide post, guide sleeve and a ball bearing assembly.

    ______________________________________                                        PATENT NO.   NAME        DATE                                                 ______________________________________                                        2,422,775    G. O. Connor                                                                              June 24, 1947                                        2,774,430    W. J. Blazek                                                                              December 18, 1956                                    2,846,278    W. T. Blazek                                                                              August 5, 1958                                       2,987,348    W. T. Blazek                                                                              June 6, 1961                                         3,092,425    G. O. Conner                                                                              June 4, 1963                                         3,357,755    J. C. Danly December 12, 1967                                    3,514,166    S. E. Coley May 26, 1970                                         3,752,540    D. Bosworth August 14, 1973                                      4,648,727    J. O'Neil   March 10, 1987                                       4,664,534    R. Hanaway  May 12, 1987                                         ______________________________________                                    

Previously with guide post, guide sleeve and ball bearing assembliesthere was not known any means for positively assuring incremental rotarymovements of the ball cage or ball bearing assembly with respect to theguide post and guide sleeve.

RELATED APPLICATION

Applicant's copending application, Ser. No. 802,825 filed Dec. 6, 1991included a guide post, guide sleeve together with an air impulse rotaryball cage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An important feature of the present invention is to provide incombination with a guide post, a guide sleeve and a ball bearing cage,with a mount means upon said sleeve to rotatably support for said ballcage.

As another feature there is provided mechanical or other means foreffecting relative rotary movement of the ball cage with respect to theguide post and guide sleeve.

Another feature is to provide in combination with a guide post, acylindrical ball bearing cage coaxially mounted thereon and adapted forrelative longitudinal and rotary movements thereon. A guide sleeve isadapted to receive the cage and guide post. An apertured cap looselyreceives the ball cage and is mounted over the guide sleeve. The cap hasan inlet to its bore adapted for connection to a pressurized air source.The air source is adapted to direct pressurized air towards surfaceportions of the ball bearing cage to mechanically rotate the ballbearing cage on its axis.

As another feature there is provided within said cap an annular channelconnected to said air inlet. A plurality of angularly related turbinepassages receive pressurized air from said channel for impingingpressurized air at an acute angle to and around said cage for rotatingsaid cage relative to said guide post and sleeve.

As another feature there is provided a normally closed valve meansinterposed upon a tube conducting pressurized air to said cap. The valvemeans when opened allows passage of compressed air to said turbineopenings.

As a further feature the valve means may be in the form of a solenoidcontrol valve or other air valve electrically controlled or may be amanual control valve.

As still another feature of the present invention there is incorporatedwithin the cap which receives the ball bearing cage an air impellerassembly connected to a source of pressurized air, adapted for directingpressurized air at an acute angle to exterior surface portions of theball cage for rotating the ball cage relative to said sleeve and post.

Another feature is to provide a timer within the electrical circuit tothe air valve which is adjustable to predetermine the amount of rotativetime the air valve will remain open, continued rotation of the ballbearing cage.

These and other features and objects will be seen from the followingspecification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawings.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of the present guide post,guide sleeve and ball cage assembly.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectioned elevational view of a modification ofthe present guide post, guide sleeve and air impulse ball bearingassembly.

FIG. 3 is a section taken in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modification showing anair impulse ball bearing assembly with guide post and guide sleeve.

FIG. 5 is a plan section taken in the direction of arrows 5--5 of FIG.4.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates severalpreferred embodiments of the invention, and that other embodiments arecontemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 portions of a die set assembly 13 are fragmentarily shown. Thelower die shoe is fragmentarily shown at 15 and an upper die shoe isdesignated at 17. These are sometimes referred to as first and secondsupports. Guide sleeve 19, having a bore 25 and a central longitudinalaxis 23 is press fitted into bore 21 formed in die shoe 17.

The axially aligned guide post 27 having a corresponding longitudinalaxis 23 is press fitted within aperture 29 in lower die shoe 15. Cage31, hereafter sometimes referred to as a ball bearing retainer, is ofcylindrical form and includes a series of longitudinally spaced circlesof spaced apertures 33 within which are nested and loosely retained aplurality of spaced ball bearings 35. The ball bearings are circularlyarranged and project inwardly and outwardly respectively, of the ballcage and are engagable with post 27 and with the bore 25 of guide sleeve19.

In normal operation the guide post, guide sleeve and ball bearingassembly are mounted with respect to die set 13. Suitable dies andpunches, not shown, may be applied respectively to die shoes 15 and 17.The preload line 91, FIG. 4, extends transversely of the open end of cap65. This corresponds to a preload condition wherein with relativemovement of guide sleeve 19 downwardly with respect to guide post 27 andwith respect to ball bearing cage 31, there is an oversize relationshipof ball bearings 35 with respect to the guide post and guide sleeve.This is about one thousandths of an inch, for illustration. This createsa preload in the assembled relationship, FIG. 2.

For the purpose of the present disclosure during the phase of operationof the present impulse ball bearing cage and its rotation, there hasbeen such relative movement between the die shoes 15 and 17 such thatguide sleeve 19 has been lifted above preload line 91. At this positionthe ball cage 31 is not constrained frictionally against rotarymovement.

The present ball bearing cage 31 includes a longitudinal bore 37,FIG. 1. Cap 39, includes an annular body having an axial bore 41 of thesame diameter as bore 25 of sleeve 19. Cap 39 at one end terminates inan internal annular support flange 49 defining a stop shoulder orsupport 47.

A Teflon(™) washer 51 is interposed between flange 49 and cage 31.Alternately stop shoulder 47 may be coated with Teflon(™) plasticmaterial, for lowering the friction with respect to the cage.

Apertured cap 39 has a threaded counterbore 43 threaded over threadedshank 45 on sleeve 19.

Cap 39, sometimes referred to as a cage mount means, is replaced by aring 53, FIG. 2.

Said ring is fitted onto the one end of guide sleeve 19 and anchored byset screw 55.

Clip 57 at one end is secured to ring 53 by fastener 59. Its other endterminates in an inturned cage support flange 61. This limits relativemovement of cage 31 in one direction relative to sleeve 19.

A modified guide post, guide sleeve and air impulse rotary ball cageassembly 63 is shown in FIG. 4 and 5.

The function and operation are shown in greater detail in my copendingpatent application Ser. No. 07/802,825 filed Dec. 6, 1991 entitled GuidePost, Guide Sleeve and Air Impulse Rotary Ball Cage.

Cap 65, FIG. 4, has a bore 67 terminating in a stop shoulder 69 definingan internal annular flange 71 supportably received cage 31,fragmentarily shown. The flange 71 is shown as annular in FIG. 4. It iscontemplated that the arc of such flange could be less than 360° up to alimited flange such as shown at 61 in FIG. 2. This would be a limitedand low friction support contact with the cage 31 employing the shortflange 61, FIG. 2.

Formed within cap 65 are a plurality of angularly related angularpassages 45, FIG. 5, which are arranged around said cap corresponding tothe turbine ring described in the above copending patent applicationSer. No. 07/802,825. In the illustrative embodiment these passagesextend add an acute angle of 45° to a normal line 77 passing throughaxis 23. This is the preferred acute angle. Other acute angles may beemployed as desired.

Formed within cap 67 is the radial outwardly extending annular stopflange 73.

A formed ring 79 is pressed over the surface of cap 65 to stop flange73. Formed within the ring 79 is an annular channel 81 defining an airplenum in communication with the outer ends of the respective angularair passages 75.

Plug fitting 87 projects into ring 79 on cap 65 and includes a pipethread, FIG. 4. A pressurized air supply 83, FIG. 4, generates pressuresin the range of 60 to 100 psi. In the illustrative embodiment this is 80psi. Said air source is connected to air hose 85. The hose in theillustrative embodiment is constructed of a polyethylene plasticmaterial.

The air supply hose 85 at one end includes a fitting 87, which isthreaded into ring 79 for communicating pressurized air to channel 81.

The annular channel 81, FIGS. 4 and 5, defines an annular plenum chamber69 in communication with the impeller type angular passages or openings75, FIG. 5.

The plurality of angularly related turbine openings 75 receivepressurized air from channel 81 and 79 deliver said air at an acuteangle to and around the surface of cage 31. This rotates said cagerelative to sleeve 19 and guide post 27.

The normally closed solenoid control valve 89, sometimes referred to asan air valve, FIG. 4, is interposed within air hose 85. Said valvecontrols and permits the flow of pressurized air from source 83 to andthrough ring channel 81 and through the corresponding angular passages75 for impingement of pressurized air upon exterior surface portions ofball cage 31. This effectively rotates the ball cage, counterclockwise,in the illustrative embodiment.

Air valve 89 is connected into circuit 93, FIG. 4, including electricalpower source 95, 120 volts, AC.

Interposed in pipe 85 replacing valve 93 may be a manual air controlvalve. Air through hose 85 may be controlled by manual application formaintaining the air flow for the number of seconds desired. This affectsa random rotation of ball bearing assembly 31 with respect to guidesleeve 19 and guide post 27. Controlling valve 89 is an adjustable timeron 03 that can be preset. This is fully discussed in my copending patentapplication Ser. No. 07/802,825 filed Dec. 6, 1991. Technical circuit93, FIG. 6, includes normally open counterswitch 99, which can be presetto close after there has been a predetermined number of relativemovements between upper die shoe 17 and lower die shoe 15, FIG. 1. Thisincludes corresponding movements between guide post 27 and guide shoe19.

For example, the counterswitch 99 may be set for 100 suchreciprocations. After that, the counterswitch closes to partly closeelectrical circuit 75 to air valve 89.

Connected to circuit 93 is a normally opened proximity switch 101 orequivalent switch. Said switch is positioned adjacent a portion of theupper die shoe 17, when in its uppermost position relative to die shoe15, FIG. 4, relative to preload line 91.

Adjustable normally closed timer switch 103, FIG. 6, is preset for apredetermined number of seconds as desired for the flow of pressurizedair into cap 79, FIG. 4. This regulates the duration of air flow andcontinued rotation of ball cage 31, if valve 89 is open.

Air valve 89 is automatically reset by timer 105.

Counterswitch 9, FIG. 6, is identified as a RED LINE GEMINI 1000Counter, Model No. GEM-10-000/A, manufactured by Red Lie Co., York, Pa.

Proximity switch 81, is referred to as effector proximity switch, modelno. 8036AL15NL3DABX, manufactured by Effector Co., King of Prussia, Pa.

The air valve 89, referred to as Asco air valve, is identified as modelno. 8210B20-120V.AC/60 cycle, manufactured by Automatic Switch Company,Florham Park, N.J.

By the present construction there will be an intermittent rotation ofthe ball bearing assembly 31 one or a plurality of rotations or for aportion of a rotation. The effect of this rotation is that it provides ameans of reducing tracking of the balls in the ball bearing cage withrespect to the guide sleeve and guide post. This provides for less wearof the guide post, guide sleeve and cage and a longer service life ofthe assembly.

Having described my invention, reference should now be had to thefollowing claims.

I claim:
 1. In combination, a first support;a guide post having alongitudinal axis mounted upon said support; a cylindrical ball bearingcage having a coaxial bore adjustably receiving said guide post; saidcage mounting a plurality of longitudinally spaced circularly arrangedball bearings extending substantially the length of said cage andprojecting inwardly and outwardly thereof, for engagement with said postand a guide sleeve respectively; a second support spaced from said firstsupport; a guide sleeve having a coaxial bore mounted upon said secondsupport and depending therefrom; and a cage mount means upon anddepending from said sleeve and extending radially inward of said sleevebore rotatably supporting said cage and against movement in onedirection along said axis; said cage and guide post being projected intosaid sleeve for relative longitudinal movements and for rotary movementsof said cage relative to said guide post and sleeve.
 2. In thecombination of claim 1, further comprising:said first and secondsupports being the relatively movable lower and upper die shoes of a dieset assembly; and said guide post and sleeve being upright and at theirends projected into and respectively secured within said die shoes. 3.In the combination of claim 1, further comprising a low friction washerinterposed between said cage mount means and cage.
 4. In the combinationof claim 3, further comprising said washer being of Teflon™ material. 5.In the combination of claim 5, further comprising said cage projectingoutwardly of said sleeve;said cage mount means including an aperturedcap having a bore and threaded onto one end of said sleeve, and aninternal radial flange on said cap supporting said cage.
 6. In thecombination of claim 5, further comprising said cap having an air inletadapted for connection to a compressed air source; and an annularchamber within said cap defining a plenum connected to said airinlet;there being a plurality of angularly related turbine openings insaid cap for receiving pressurized air from said plenum and impingingpressurized air at an acute angle to and around said cage for rotatingsaid cage relative to said sleeve and post.
 7. In the combination ofclaim 6, further comprising said connection including a hose with afitting at one end connected to said cap inlet and at its other endconnected to said air source.
 8. In the combination of claim 7, furthercomprising said air source being compressed air at a pressure in therange of about 60 to 100 PSI.
 9. In the combination of claim 7, furthercomprising a normally closed valve means interposed upon said hose, saidvalve means when open feeding compressed air to said turbine openings.10. In the combination of claim 9, further comprising the valve meansbeing a solenoid control valve.
 11. In the combination of claim 6,further comprising said turbine openings being arranged at an angle of45°, approximately, to a normal line extending through said axis.
 12. Inthe combination of claim 6, further comprising said guide sleeve beingsufficiently elevated relative to said guide post and cage so as torelease any preload therebetween.
 13. In the combination of claim 5,further comprising said radial flange being annular.
 14. In thecombination of claim 5, further comprising said cap being constructed ofa material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastic. 15.In the combination of claim 5, further comprising said cage mount meansincluding a ring secured over one end of said sleeve; anda supportmember depending from said ring having a radial cage support flange. 16.In the combination of claim 5, further comprising said sleeve having athreaded shank of reduced diameter relative to said sleeve diameter;saidcap being of the same diameter of said sleeve and having a counterborethreaded over said shank.
 17. In the combination of claim 5, furthercomprising said cap having a bore of the same diameter as said sleeveproviding a smooth continuation thereof receiving said cage.
 18. Incombination, a first support;a guide post having a longitudinal axismounted upon said support; a cylindrical ball bearing cage having acoaxial bore adjustably receiving said guide post; said cage mounting aplurality of spaced circularly arranged ball bearings extendingsubstantially the length of said cage and projecting inwardly andoutwardly thereof, respectively; a second support spaced from said firstsupport; a guide sleeve having a coaxial bore mounted upon and dependingfrom said second support; a cap threaded onto one end of said sleeve andhaving an annular flange rotatably supporting said cage; said cap havingan air inlet connected to its bore adapted for connection to acompressed air source; and a plurality of angularly related turbineopenings in said cap for receiving pressurized air from said inlet andimpinging pressurized air an acute angle to and around said cage forrotating said cage relative to said sleeve and post.
 19. In thecombination of claim 18, further comprising said connection including atube with a fitting at one end connected to said cap inlet and at itsother end connected to said air source; anda normally closed valve meansinterposed upon said tube, said valve means when open feeding compressedair to said turbine openings.